Bone cancer is a rare, malignant form of cancer of the bone in the body that destroys normal bone tissue. It can begin in any type of bone, but it commonly affects the long bones that make up the arms and legs. Bone cancers occur most commonly in children and adolescents and are less common in older adults. In the United States, more than 2,000 people are diagnosed each year with a bone cancer.
Signs and symptoms of bone cancer
It is also a form of cancer that does not show any specific list of warning signs or symptoms to identify the disease in the early stages. Bone cancer symptoms vary depending on the tumor’s size and location. Some of the most common warning signs and symptoms of bone cancer include the following:
- Bone cancer often causes pain and tenderness in the affected area of the bone which can often be mistaken for growing pains in children and for arthritis in adults. The pain is usually worse at night. As the cancer grows it can also cause swelling in the affected area. If the swelling is near a joint, it may make movement in the joint difficult.
- Individuals may exhibit unexplained fracture of one or more bones, occasionally without noticeable trauma. A fracture in a bone that causes severe pain may be the first sign that cancer has invaded the bone.
- Sometimes a firm, slightly tender lump on the bone can be felt through the skin. Generally, this is a symptom that is experienced with patients who have fibrosarcoma or malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), but it is a symptom that can also occur with other types of bone cancer. In some cases, bone cancer interferes with normal movements.
Generally, depending on the growth of the tumor, the individual may notice various types of bone cancer symptoms that can last from several weeks to several months, or they may even last for several years before the individual makes the decision that they should consult the opinion of a family health care professional.
Less common signs and symptoms of bone cancer
It is not necessary that individuals experience the following less common symptoms of bone cancer right from the beginning stages. However, the less common symptoms of bone cancer include the following:
- weight loss;
- fever;
- night sweats; and
- chills.
These symptoms are more commonly noticed in individuals that are diagnosed with bone cancer, as the tumor begins to spread to various other tissues of the patient’s body.
Risk factors of bone cancer
Although scientists are uncertain what causes bone cancer, a number of factors may put an individual at increased risk. Bone cancers occur more frequently in children and young adults, predominantly those who have had radiation or chemotherapy treatments for other conditions. Other risk factors of bone cancer include the following:
- Inherited genetic syndromes and medical disorders, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome (a hereditary disorder caused by a mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene); Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (a medical disorder where children are short and suffer from skeletal problems and rashes); hereditary retinoblastoma (a rare form of eye cancer); and multiple exostoses (a hereditary disorder characterized by bone bumps, deformities and fractures).
- Bone tumors and disorders, such as Paget’s disease of the bone (a bone disorder, characterized by an abnormal development of new bone cells and excessive bone destruction and disorganized bone structure, leading to heavier and thicker bones, frequent fractures, and skeletal deformities); osteochondroma (benign tumors of the bone and cartilage).
- Excessive exposure to chemicals or radiation.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only; it should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his/her health should contact a licensed medical professional.
Sources
Mayo Clinic, “Symptoms and Risk Factors of Bone Cancer” Accessed June 25, 2011
National Cancer Institute “An Overview of Bone Cancer” Accessed June 25, 2011
Medicine Net “ Risk Factors of Bone Cancer ” Accessed June 25, 2011
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